Ahvarra: The Heart of the World

Ahvarra

Ahvarra: The Heart of the World By Brian J. Lang

Plot:

The island of Lorenya is slowly being eaten by a black desert known as the Raught, and its inhabitants—both humans and a transforming race known as Ameleons—need a solution. Such a solution may exist in their own world, at the ruins of a battlefield that lies across the treacherous Raught, while another may exist by passing through Ahvarra, the Heart of the World, that connects Lorenya to a mid 21st century Earth. Can history and technology combine to save one small world?

Review:

The book is well plotted. There are several characters you follow and they all eventually intertwine. There were a couple characters I liked more than others and I didn’t want to leave them, but Lang made it very obvious who you were with so there was never any confusion.

***Spoilers***

There ended up being only one bad guy and in the end he redeemed himself, kind of, which I didn’t expect. I don’t look for bad guys to try to redeem themselves (unless that’s what the book is about) I just assume they’ll eventually become evil.

The whole book was really a giant misunderstanding and the people of Lorenya came off as not being very curious.

I’m interested to see if he will be continuing the series since there’s an even bigger world we never got to see. It would also be interesting to see if the real world makes any kind of impact.

It looks like the file the author uploaded was possibly double spaced so even after I made what changes the kindle allows there was still more spacing on each page than I was use to. It by no means made the book unreadable, it just meant that I turned the page more often than usual. Since I have an older kindle my desire for a newer one is now increased. The formatting does not impact my review, I’ve seen too many traditional and indie published struggle with formatting. It was just something I thought I’d mention.

3.5/5

This is currently running as a Kindle Countdown Deal and is available for $1.99 a steal at that price

Enemies Closer (2013)

enemies closer

Director:

Peter Hyams

Starring:

Tom Everett

Jean-Claude Van Damme

Orlando Jones

Plot:

Deep within a forest on the US-Canadian border, two sworn enemies must work together to escape a ruthless drug cartel hell-bent on retrieving a drug shipment which went missing there.

Review:

If you like cheesy, over the top, poorly acted, action movies than you will love this movie. I thought it started out great, the bad guys were Mounties for crying out loud. The worst part of the movie, as much as it pains me to say it, was Jean-Claude Van Damme. He was trying so hard to be a great actor that he just seemed like a joke.

The dialog was the worst part, but if you’ve watched a lot of direct to video action movies you’re use to it. The only reason I’m giving this movie the score I am is because I felt that it didn’t live up to its potential.

3/5

A Girl and Her Monster

a girl and her monster

A Girl and Her Monster By: Landon Porter

Plot:

There is a legend in this world of a weapon that only the most wicked of souls seek. It has passed down through the years since before the coming of the gods and each time it’s been found, it granted its master the power to conquer. The power to rule. In the past, it was known by another name, but now it is only known by Rune Breaker.

After decades of dormancy, it just found a new master.

Only this time, things will be different. The new master of the Rune Breaker is an escaped slave-soldier of the Hailene Army of Ascendancy. She never sought the weapon. She does not want to conquer or rule.

Making that choice won’t be easy, for the Rune Breaker is not a sword or bow, but a man; a shapeshifting mage bound to serve whoever finds him as punishment for his ancient crimes. And his sentence has done nothing to reform him. Now, with a villain from before history bound to serve a heroic soul, the question must be answered: Can evil be turned to the cause of good, or is the taint of darkness all corrupting and absolute?

Before they can find out, they must brave a world alien to both of them and the attentions of a foe who stalks them in hopes of gaining access to a power beyond the gods.

Review:

There were several things about this book that I really enjoyed and a couple things I didn’t. Story and characters were great. World building could have been a bit better, but since it use to be a web series I understand the lack.

I don’t like to mention editing in reviews (I have my reasons) but I thought this book could be better if it had some more done. The book wasn’t bad but there were some misspelled words, some sentences that could have been written better, that sort of thing. It didn’t make the book unreadable by any means but it did make me a little sad because I think it could have reached another level with just a bit more work.

A Goodreads review had this to say and I thought it really summed up my feelings on the book:

“Essentially: this story is good enough to make you wish it were better, but promising enough to make you believe it will get there. I am up for the journey.”

I will be buying the next book, totally worth $2.99

3/5

World War Z (2013)

World-War-Z

Director:

Marc Forster

Starring:

Brad Pitt

Mireille Enos

Danielle Kertesz

Plot:

United Nations employee Gerry Lane traverses the world in a race against time to stop the Zombie pandemic that is toppling armies and governments, and threatening to destroy humanity itself.

Review:

Nothing like a zombie movie to make you want to set up a stock pile and build a fallout shelter.

I’ll be honest there were parts were I muted the TV. I’ve never liked horror but for some reason I’ll watch zombie movies. No idea why since most of the time I end up screaming.

I loved the book, audio and regular, and originally had very high hopes for this. Those expectations were lowered the more I found out about it but I’ve been trying to judge movies just on themselves and not on their books. It’s difficult.

My husband says this movie should be re-titled Brad Pitt in The Luckiest Son of a Bitch on the Planet. I think that pretty much sums up my review. Zombies are already ridiculous but World War Z and The Zombie Survival Guide always acted like they were real, which was part of what made them so good. The movie was just another zombie movie and didn’t have much to do with either book.

2.5/5

P.S.

Dr. Who

After Earth (2013)

after earth

Director:

M. Night Shyamalan

Starring:

Jaden Smith

Will Smith

Plot:

A crash landing leaves Kitai Raige and his father Cypher stranded on Earth, a millennium after events forced humanity’s escape. With Cypher injured, Kitai must embark on a perilous journey to signal for help.

Review:

Holy shit why the hell did they let this kid narrate? Horrible voice. I feel kind of bad saying that since he is a kid but if he’s going to be an actor he needs to get use to it. Thank goodness it was only for a little bit

Overall I wouldn’t say I hated the movie but it was pretty close. What happened to Will Smith? I use to love his movies and then Hancock came out and it was all downhill from there.

Admittedly he wasn’t the worst part of the movie but he didn’t help it.

1.75/5